Today 29Jan2023: Busy Sunday

I started the morning with my alarm going off right after setting it. At least, that is how it felt this morning. I did not get started at 6:30 but managed to start at 7:15 and rushed through the morning. Finally, I was making coffee, liberal as always, with an NYC bagel and the last banana in the house. The bagel is one of the last ones from Christmas and was good, an everything bagel from Zabar’s, with cream cheese.

A friend called at 8:30. She could not sleep well as her asthma and headaches kept her from sleeping–I have been there. I recall having the same issues she recalled last week; we had some lousy air days (an inversion), and one day, I could barely talk as there was something irritant air near Highway 217. She knew I was up early on Sundays, and I suspect she had not slept last night, and it was good to talk for a while.

This made me later than I had expected. I managed to publish the blog but was hopelessly late for church.

I have learned that I must give them up. I cannot superman my way through things; I have to let something go. So I went swiftly, and the blog was published with a few forgivable typos (I fixed a few later) instead of being read through the usual two times. I loaded the Apple computer, the necessary cables, and the Bluetooth sound box into Air Volvo. Then, I calmly drove to the hummingbird house. I called and told them to leave Susie in her chair as we should watch church there when Air Volvo arrives, which will be after 10:30. Again, I know that I had to give it up today or risk everything in a mad dash.

The weather was cold, above freezing now, with a 30+ mph (48 kph) wind. The fence gate was blowing in the wing open and slamming into the house. A few items also blew off the deck. I used some cardboard to paint the ship models, which were blown into the roses. I carefully removed it and shut and locked the gate. I suspect the slamming of the gate interrupted my sleep all night. The sky was blue, and there was no rain. The wind was drying everything, and the ground was still frozen from the freeze last night.

I arrived without issues and in almost no traffic to the hummingbird house in Tigard. Michelle Nixon was at the home, and Anassa, the nursing aide for today, was there for her long shift. Anassa got Susie set up in a recliner in the social activity room as I got the screen and Apple connected to watch the church service. Unfortunately, we missed the first fifteen minutes (two hymns).

Pastor Ken was preaching his best, I think, sermon. He managed to move from his comfort in history and bible stories to a focused religious message. He pointed out a few things that surprised me. First, while reading the scripture in Matthew about the yoke of the Lord to be light, he said Jesus never said that life would be easy. Pastor Ken says that Jesus is clear that it is his teaching and faith in Him are easy, but he does not guarantee an easy life. Pastor Ken goes even further to point out the falseness of the American Christian Prosperity Gospel, suggesting that if you are a good Christian, your life will go well. God never said it would be easy; actually, He says, “pick up your cross.”

Pastor Ken then surprised me with the observation that John the Baptist, while calling for repentance and representing the best in mankind, was not really approachable. Jesus instead ate with sinners and drank with them (Pastor Ken pointed out He supplied the wine once), and the children felt safe with Jesus. John’s focus was the past and not easy to approach, but Jesus was loving and friendly. Pastor Ken asked why Jesus did not become more like John and then answered his own question, as pastors often do in a sermon, by pointing out that John, had he been at the Last Supper, could not even drink from the shared cup.

With the sermon over, and Susie resting through most of it, we watched some Rock and Roll videos (including TimeWarp) to just enjoy some music. Next, we called Leta, Susie’s mother, and they chatted. While they talked, I went in and installed Peacock on the cable for Susie ($4.99 a month) and found ice skating for Susie. Susie and her mother were thrilled, and Susie was soon ignoring me and staying awake in her rocking chair. She followed everything on Nationals. Susie used to attend Nationals and even do some trial judging at Nationals.

I left for lunch while Susie was laser focused.

I met Mariah again at Golden Valley Brewery neat 2PM for a late lunch. I had Diet Coke as I returned to Susie’s (no alcohol when caring for Susie) and had some appetizers for lunch, onion rings with wings and a side salad. Mariah had a few beers and a Cobb Salad. We talked about a few things, including some writing that we have been missing. Mariah has a new idea for a story–I liked it.

I returned to Susie in the late afternoon to find her resting in her bed. She had forgone lunch until the skating had finished and even discussed the results with Anassa, who saw Susie excited and closely followed along–A glimpse of Susie before the stoke. Anassa was able to sit with Susie through some of the skatings and even found Susie talkative–something new for Anassa. Again, Susie and her love of skating and judging can break through the stroke damage and exhaustion. I stayed with Susie for about an hour just to keep her company.

In the dark sitting in the rocking chair with my laptop, I started editing one of my old Howard stories in Grammarly, which is much better now, and it found some more issues (more than 200) as I wanted to send it out again. I corrected the mandatory issue and also ignored a few–it is better but a bit more invasive, too–you have to reread after it is done. I started to get sleepy and thought it wrong to fall out of the chair, so I said my goodbyes with a kiss from Susie and took Air Volvo home, arriving near 5PM.

After watching more Vox Machina, I made two hot dogs for dinner after 6PM. I liked it more. I put sour kraut and mustard on the Olympic Provision weiners. I then started to get sleepy and rested for a bit, primarily reading. I got going again at 7:15 to write the blog (this). I plan to do some more coding when I get the blog (this) published.

I sent out Howard’s Lockdown story to the gaming group as it is not meeting tonight. Maybe they can find some fun in the story. I also sent them my SciFi story, soon to be published.

Thanks for reading!